Flat-iron



- 2 Sheets-Shetl. C. .KNAPP- (No Modem FLAT IRON.

`Patented Apr. 6, 1897;

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PLAT IRON. Y

PatentedApr. 6, 1897.

v(No Model.)

v Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES KNAPP, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

FLAT-IRON.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,135, dated April 6, 1897'.

Application filed November 11,1896. Serial No. 611,773. (No model) T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flat-Irons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a top view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view on line 2 2, indicated in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing, however, a somewhat modified construction of my improved fiat-iron; Fig. i, a sectional view on line 4 4, indicated in the same figure.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views'.

My invention relates to utensils for laund ries; and it consists of a iiat-iron provided with apparatusforsprinkling of clothes while they are being pressed, as hereinafter described and claimed.

It is difiicult to preserve the clothes dampened before ironing in the required state of dampness during the work because the temperature in the place where the ironing is done is usually high and the atmosphere absorbs the dampness of the clothes. Partlydry or unequally-dampened clothes are very hard to iron, and when so dry no such glossy and smooth surface can be produced thereon as is generally required. It is especially the fine folds, laces, and trimmings of the clothes that dry quickest, and they require also the greatest amount of work to iiatten them properly and to produce a smooth surface thereon.

My invention tends to provide (in combination with the {iat-iron) an apparatus where'- by a finely-divided spray of water may be ejected right in front of the flat-iron, thus dampening to a proper degree the material to be pressed immediately before the iiat-iron is applied to it. It is apparent that in this manner, the apparatus being fully in control of the ironer, every part of the material is properly dampened, and inasmuch as the flat-iron follows immediately the best effect is obtained.

My improved flat-iron consists of the body a, having hollow standards b and b', to which the hollow handle c, forming a water-reservoir, is detachably secured by screws s and s', as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In the forward end of the handle c is an aperture for filling the same with water, and stopper d, secured to the lid d', is provided to close this aperture, the lid being secured in closed posit-ion by hasp d2 slipping over projection e. The rear end of the handle c is enlarged into dome c, which is normally above the level of the water.

Nozzle f, set in the standard b, communicates with the handle c through aperture g, normally closed by valve g', whose stem passes through the upper wall of the handle c outward, terminating in a push-knob h, placed where it may be conveniently reached by the thumb of the person using the flatiron.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slightly-modified construction of the apparatus, differing from that shown in Fig. 2 in the arrangement of the nozzle f. In Fig. 2 this nozzle is shown projecting from the standard b through an aperture, whereas in Fig. 3 the nozzle f is inserted through the base of the standard b into the body a of the flat-iron, projectinginto its foremost point. This modified construction is devised for the purpose of protecting the nozzle and preventing its being bent or broken in handling the flat-iron. All other parts of the construction are similar, except that in this figure the cross-pin j' in the stem of the valve g is set to carry upward the lever 7c with the stem of the valve when the pressure on the pushknob 7i, is released. Underneath the push-knob 7i, and between it and the handle c, the coiled springt is slid on the stem of the valve g, drawing this valve upward and keeping thus the aperture g normally closed. On the stem of the valve g and within the handle c is secured a stop-ring j, engaging the forked end of the lever lo, fulcrumed in boss k', set in the bottom of the handle c.

On the other shorter end of the lever .k is secured the stopper Z, closing an aperture provided in the bottom of the handle c and the top of standard b, thus forming a passage between the handle and the cavity of the Vstandard b', wherein the tube m is located, resting with the serrated edge of its funnelshaped lower end on the bottom of the cavity IOO and extending upward into the dome c', where it projects above the level of the water.

The stop-'collar 'm' is secured to the tube m, and a coiled spring n is slid thereon between the forked end of the lever k and the stopcollar m. Tube m is stationary, being secured in the bottom of the handle c and in the top of the standard b.

When the valve g is driven downward by the pressure of the thumb on push-kn ob 71J for the purpose of ejecting a spray of water from the nozzle f, stopper Z will at the same time be lifted, thereby admitting some water into the cavity of the standard b. The body ct of the flat-iron is kept hot. Consequently the water thus admitted into the cavity of j' inserted in the stem of the valve g' underthe standard b will be rapidly converted into steam, and this steam will pass through a tube m into the dome c', where its expansive pressure will be exerted on the water contained in the handle c, driving it forcibly through the nozzle f when the valve g is opened. This pressure on the water will be practically constant, because the space emptied by the ejection of the water from the handle @will be filled by steam, and the remaining water becoming more and more heated will condense less of the steam produced. Even then, when the handle will be wholly ille'd with steam, the operation of the apparatus will not be stopped, inasmuch as the steam forcibly ejected through nozzle f when coming into contact with the cloth will quickly condense and produce the same effect as a iinelydivided spray of water.

The function of the spiral spring n is to press downward stopper Z and close the aperture when the pressure on the push-knob h is released. It is provided mainly to insure the good working of the apparatus by dividing the actuating power upon both ends of the lever k; It could, however, ber dispensed with if the spring i on the stem of the valve g be made sufficiently strong and a cross-pin neath the forked end of the lever k, so as to carry it upward, because the pressure of the water contained in the handle cwill assist in pressing stopper Z downward.

I claim as my invention a-nd desire to secure by Letters Patentl. Aat-iron, comprisinga suitably-shaped body, hollow standards and a hollow, detachable handle, having an aperture for admitting water into the handle, and a lid, and a stopper secured to the lid, for closing this aperture; an upwardly-projecting dome, an aperture for admitting water from the handle into the cavity of the rear standard, adapted to be'closed by a spring-actuated stopper, and an outlet for ejecting the water from the handle; a nozzle, secured to the outlet; a valve, normally closing it, and having its stem extended through the handle; a pushknob, set on the stem of the valve, and a spiral spring, slid on the stem between the handle and the push-knob and thus pressing the valve into its seat; a tube, set in the cavity of the rear standard, and extending upward into the dome of the handle; astopcollar secured to the tube; a lever, fulcrumed to a boss inside of the handle, a stopper secured to the lever, a spiral spring, `slid on the tube underneath the stop-collar, and pressing the arm of the lever downward, thereby pressing the stopper, secured to it, into the aperture communicating with the cavity of the standard; a stop-collar, secured to the stem of the valve closing the aperture to the nozzle, and engaging the forked end of the lever.

2. The combination with a fiat-iron of hollow standards and ahollow handle, the handle being provided with a steam-dome, an aperture for admitting water into the handle, .an outlet, communica-ting with the interior of one of the standards and an outlet for ejecting the water from the handle; a nozzle attached to the outlet, spring-actuated valves, closing the outlets, means for operating the valves, including a motion-transmit-tin g lever connecting the valves, and means for conveying the steam, generated in the base of one of the hollow standards into the dome of the handle.

In witness that I claim the improvements described in the foregoing specification I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

CHARLES KNAPP.

lVitnesses HENRY SCHREITER, ROBERT VALENTINE MATHEws. 

